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BMW Hydrogen 7 drops gasoline from the mix

The BMW Hydrogen 7 arrived in late 2006 boasting the unique ability to run its V12 powerplant on both hydrogen and gasoline. This was a smart idea, as the on-board 30-gallon tank of -253° Centigrade liquid hydrogen was only good for a range of about 125 miles. The other fuel tank, filled with 19.5 gallons of good old-fashioned gasoline, extended the range another 310 miles. It didn't offer any environmental advantage, but it did allow you to get home.

BMW is following up the original Hydrogen 7 with a new version - this time minus the gasoline tank. While official performance specifications, including emissions data, have not been released, BMW is claiming both performance and range have been increased. It will debut at the 2008 National Hydrogen Association Conference and the 2008 SAE World Congress in mid-April, when BMW is expected to release emissions date for the car, as well.

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Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

Jake, like so many Egglectrics you don't have the facts.The mono-fuel H7 runs on hydrogen alone and emits no CO2, and you're wrong on the mpg. The LH2 range doesn't suggest running the tank empty so you can't divide miles by kg.see http://www.transportation.anl.gov/pdfs/HV/475.pdf slide 20 for an energy equivalent.

So if you and the Egglectrics are in charge of the decisions, which of the following from each pair must we eliminate: Mac or PC, Cable or Satellite, Ipod or MP3 player, battery forklift or propane, cell phone or wired, pen or pencils, IMAX or 35 mm film, VHS or Beta, analog or digital watches. Hmmmm?

Regarding criticism of energy and origins to create hydrogen, do you own anything made of cotton? Do you remember a time in history when cotton was produced using the energy of slaves? Was cotton abolished or slavery?

Anonymous

7 Years Ago

I think a bigger issue is that hydrogen has such a low potential energy, relatively speaking, especially combined with the current energy losses in producing said energy. Yes, that cost will decrease with more market share, but I think that hydrogen shouldn't be considered as fuel by itself; instead, only in combination with other fuels to gain some of its benefits (injection into normal gasoline to help decrease cylinder/chamber temperatures?)